HELP! My windows are too big!
I'm totally NOT sure how to dress my windows. If I lived on a higher floor, I'd keep most of the rooms curtain-free, but I'm lost as to how to have privacy at night, not block the sunshine during the day, avoid "short" curtains (some people insist on them because the heaters are under the windows but I cannot imagine going short), and avoid going completely broke.
For this room, the living room, I thought to do something somewhat sheer as privacy isn't much of a concern, but they don't look good with nothing... Thing is, there are heaters on each side of the window, I use the left one but I never use the right heater.
I have around 19 windows in my house, not mentioning the windows in my wintergarten, and the custom window treatment store that I went to last week left me feeling like I'd need to sell a body part to be able to afford "custom" white fabric roman shades, or stoff raffrollos. They estimated that each would run around 400-500 Euros.
Did you do the math? In case you didn't, that is around 10,000 Euros and though I assume for most people who are obsessed with decor like I am would just shell out the cash in exchange for window treatments that fit perfectly and look great, but truth is I'm a cheapskate -- I can't imagine spending so much on simple, white roman blinds.
This room faces the street and I imagine white roman blinds here with MAYBE drapes on either side that I never have to close because of those stupid heaters beneath every single window. Who thinks of these dumb ideas?!? Anyway, I think simple white roman blinds would be enough for me.
I live in an altbauwohnung built in 1900. The windows are huge. The ceilings soar to the heavens. It's a lovely flat. But when it comes to dressing the windows I feel completely out of sorts.
I thought perhaps curtains in some rooms, roman blinds (fabric) in others but I really want all of the windows facing the street in the front of the house to be uniform. And I'd love to have some gorgeous curtains in the living room, which faces the back of the house, but those windows are like 330 high or something crazy like that. I can't find stores that sell massive curtains or blinds to fit my windows.
This room is going to be either my office and reception room OR a dining room... I haven't figured it out yet. It is still empty and waiting to be decorated. I imagine white roman blinds in here and on the door leading to the front balcony that you can't see too well (it's to the right of the window in the right hand corner), a long sheer. I measured and it's needs to be at least 300 long! Eek!
My window dilemma is stressing me out. If it's not one thing to whine about, it's another, I know...
I've never lived in a house with such high ceilings and massive windows, so I'm lost. Altbau living is uncharted territory. I have to get on a ladder to clean the tops of my doors. To change a lightbulb in my pendants, I have to climb to the near top of a massive paint ladder. I'm used to living in houses where I jump on my bed to change the lightbulb or a chair. If I want to wipe the frame above the door with a cloth, I get on my tippy toes and wipe. Now I have to rely on ladders and hire people to wash my windows because there is no way I can wash them -- too many of them, they are huge, and each window has transoms above them so I can't imagine how many days it would take for me to clean my windows. I digress... Cleaning aside, I'm embarrassed that I can't even figure out how to dress my windows without spending a billion dollars.
If you have any suggestions, I could use your help. I usually sew my curtains by hand or re-purpose new flat sheets into curtains OR buy them at the store ready made, but my King Kong windows coupled with my lack of time simply won't allow me to sew them all myself. I plan to make a few when some fabric that I ordered arrives, but those are for the 4 small windows that I have in my guest bathroom and hallway. Those are easy-peasy, I can handle those windows. It's the other 500 that are freaking me out!
Any suggestions fellow altbauwohnung dwellers? Where does one purchase ginormous curtains and white fabric roman blinds that look nice without having to go custom?
(images: holly becker for haus maus)
For this room, the living room, I thought to do something somewhat sheer as privacy isn't much of a concern, but they don't look good with nothing... Thing is, there are heaters on each side of the window, I use the left one but I never use the right heater.
I have around 19 windows in my house, not mentioning the windows in my wintergarten, and the custom window treatment store that I went to last week left me feeling like I'd need to sell a body part to be able to afford "custom" white fabric roman shades, or stoff raffrollos. They estimated that each would run around 400-500 Euros.
Did you do the math? In case you didn't, that is around 10,000 Euros and though I assume for most people who are obsessed with decor like I am would just shell out the cash in exchange for window treatments that fit perfectly and look great, but truth is I'm a cheapskate -- I can't imagine spending so much on simple, white roman blinds.
This room faces the street and I imagine white roman blinds here with MAYBE drapes on either side that I never have to close because of those stupid heaters beneath every single window. Who thinks of these dumb ideas?!? Anyway, I think simple white roman blinds would be enough for me.
I live in an altbauwohnung built in 1900. The windows are huge. The ceilings soar to the heavens. It's a lovely flat. But when it comes to dressing the windows I feel completely out of sorts.
I thought perhaps curtains in some rooms, roman blinds (fabric) in others but I really want all of the windows facing the street in the front of the house to be uniform. And I'd love to have some gorgeous curtains in the living room, which faces the back of the house, but those windows are like 330 high or something crazy like that. I can't find stores that sell massive curtains or blinds to fit my windows.
This room is going to be either my office and reception room OR a dining room... I haven't figured it out yet. It is still empty and waiting to be decorated. I imagine white roman blinds in here and on the door leading to the front balcony that you can't see too well (it's to the right of the window in the right hand corner), a long sheer. I measured and it's needs to be at least 300 long! Eek!
My window dilemma is stressing me out. If it's not one thing to whine about, it's another, I know...
I've never lived in a house with such high ceilings and massive windows, so I'm lost. Altbau living is uncharted territory. I have to get on a ladder to clean the tops of my doors. To change a lightbulb in my pendants, I have to climb to the near top of a massive paint ladder. I'm used to living in houses where I jump on my bed to change the lightbulb or a chair. If I want to wipe the frame above the door with a cloth, I get on my tippy toes and wipe. Now I have to rely on ladders and hire people to wash my windows because there is no way I can wash them -- too many of them, they are huge, and each window has transoms above them so I can't imagine how many days it would take for me to clean my windows. I digress... Cleaning aside, I'm embarrassed that I can't even figure out how to dress my windows without spending a billion dollars.
If you have any suggestions, I could use your help. I usually sew my curtains by hand or re-purpose new flat sheets into curtains OR buy them at the store ready made, but my King Kong windows coupled with my lack of time simply won't allow me to sew them all myself. I plan to make a few when some fabric that I ordered arrives, but those are for the 4 small windows that I have in my guest bathroom and hallway. Those are easy-peasy, I can handle those windows. It's the other 500 that are freaking me out!
Any suggestions fellow altbauwohnung dwellers? Where does one purchase ginormous curtains and white fabric roman blinds that look nice without having to go custom?
(images: holly becker for haus maus)
Comments
Just thought I'd mention it since I know all too well how expensive it can be to dress a ton of windows and have it look cohesive!
Anna Dorfman at Door 16 put the white ones in her place. Here is a picture of them that she recently posted: http://www.doorsixteen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/windowenje_600.jpg
She also did a tutorial recently for how to trim them down to the appropriate width: http://www.doorsixteen.com/2011/02/11/how-to-cut-an-enje-roller-shade/
It seems to me, that this is EXACTLY what you've been imagining. Ikea also has curtains that might be worth checking out. And if you don't have an Ikea near you, I bet you could sweet-talk a loved-one into picking some up and sending them to you.
Another thought: frosted appliques that stick directly to the window. Not quite as elegant or versatile as a roman blind, but still potential helpful.
On Home to Stay I saw how they dressed windows for a Toronto loft that soared 25 feet high - that's higher than yours, right?
They took store bought panels, cut them at about 2/3 down and added 2 or three blocks of fabric strips in the middle and then added the original bottom of the store bought panels. It looked lovely and did not cost the world. It had an Anthropology feel without the price tag.
Have you considered ordering online and having blinds shipped from outside of Germany?
My challenge is not the height of the windows, but my 1950s panorama window that meets in the corner with the side window - I have some transition issues and I need some window treatments for privacy.
Good luck!
- Roman blinds for that studio/dining room seem to be perfect! In that case there is no way around spending some money on that room. You'll be happy about it for a long time...
- Long stores of lighter fabric like(off-)white muslin can still provide enough privacy for a living or dining room as well. When you buy the fabric yourself and look for a good seamstress it should be more affordable I think.
- For one or two rooms - Maybe you can find some ready-made curtains for example out of linen and add a broad strip of contrasting or matching fabric either at the top end or at the lower end? I've seen nice examples for this in magazines like AD.
- In Holland one often sees that the lower end of the window has those window decals that give the impression of milk glass (I even believe you had a post on them a while ago). Works good for rooms like the kitchen and it absolutely gives privacy. Even at night when the lights inside are on.
- In our old rental we had this kind of solution in the guest bathroom. http://www.gefora.de/gefora_spannline.html (something similar is for sale at every kaufhof/karstadt/baumarkt..)
Quite allright for smaller, high up windows and super easy to make yourself with any fabric you like...
Good luck covering all those windows up ;)
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30090117
I'd suggest trying to hang them with industrial Velcro, but even I'm not that dumb. ;)
IKEA used to sell these lovely white cloth panels that were window treatments and they moved on a track on the ceiling. You would slide them together for privacy and slide open during the day. they would also work well to cover the heaters when open?
they had a lovely design and allowed light to penetrate thru..I think they would be grand in the first photo you posted...
just a thought!
Else Super long lengths of linen, if you have them really long so they aregathering on the ground, it'll hide raggedy ends until you find time to sew or can afford to buy :)
Else Super long lengths of linen, if you have them really long so they aregathering on the ground, it'll hide raggedy ends until you find time to sew or can afford to buy :)
What I've done is used a tension rod to cut the window (a little higher than half) and hung curtains. Because you have the different style of window up top, I think this would look about a thousand times better in your home than mine. And you could probably get store-bought curtains and just hem the bottom for length.
For some reason, it doesn't look as odd that they're short, since they don't go all the way up. I like to joke that I've given my windows a pretty dress.
As others have mentioned, IKEA has some pretty decent options and they cater to the height of windows in Europe.
If you like I could help you.
If you want to save money you can build your own blind system. It´s very easy easy...;-)(in German PILLEPALLE). Just i little piece of wood.... I will explain everything. In my shop I offer really good (white) fabrics for fantastic prices (directly from the supplieres). So you only have to find someone which sews the fabric for you. That would be the best price.
Of course: I can do the sewing for you.
May-be you want to drive to Bremen (ca. 1,5h) and we will find something together? We have really good friends in Hannover. so we can also find an appointment at your place and I can measure...
Think about it.
Have a nice Sunday...
Best wishes
Karin
http://houseofphilia.blogspot.com/2009/09/1700-tals-rullgardin.html
But not sure if it would work without any drilling or hammering...
Thin linen is a great material though, if you want light.
i had the same 'problem' living in an altbau -- after thinking a lot i decided to buy ikea-curtains (MERETE
2 Gardinenschals, EUR 29,99, Länge: 300 cm, Breite: 145 cm).
but don't buy ikea gardinenstangen, they are the worst to mount!!!
the merete curtains have big rings, so you don't have to fiddle around with attaching rings and you just iron up the bottom of the curtain with a tape that is included.
it worked for us and looks great.
regards, lisa
She went on to make the washed silk curtains for my B&B - taken directly from a design we both found at Domocil in Hamburg. They are so beautifully made - much better than the originals. I'll have them forever.
Doing this is a good idea. It helped someone who has three kids and needs the money but also got me EXACTLY what I needed and wanted for two very hard to fit windows. At less than half of what I would have paid a professional service, which, (I have several professional window covering makers in d-land and there were always difficulties).
If you want her info, I can get it to you.
I guess I can´t really help you, but I have the same problem, especially in our living room. We moved in last august, the ceiling is 3,60m and since then there´s...nothing. Jap. In our dining room I have long stores of a light white fabric. I like it but want a different thing in the living room...Just relax, you´ll find the right ones! =)
Britta*
(same building = same windows)
hmm..very difficult...
maybe for the wintergarten I would choose frosted glass film but I don't know...
I bought at IKEA this for all of my windows (small and low farmhouse windows), they look great, you can cut them so they fit perfectly. The idea is to ironprint a photo or ornament on one of them to test if that will work, just to make them a little bit less ordinary.
What if you were to use pencil thin tension rods inside the window frame at the top and at the sash between the transom and the lower portion of the window. And what if you were to gather a sheer fabric onto the rods; sheer but something with some stiffness, like white organza? Maybe 'blouse' the top a little bit and let it flow down from below the transom? You might even use an organza ribbon to create the pockets to thread the center rods through .....
Have you considered a shopping trip to the NL? Another country used to huuuuge windows. HEMA and vtwonen have nice options.
Maybe I'm reapeting a former comment...but also, what about second hands? or asking the landlord for a financial participation to the cost? and non-see-through adhesive for the bottom part of some?
I guess you've already tried Zara Home. Maison du Monde sometimes has cheap but cute series. (both probably not long enough though...)
Good luck!
we don't even have central heating.
I keep my fingers crossed that you find a good solution, Franzi
The curtain stores here are wonderful, but if you have those train-track style rails in the ceiling I would recommend finding the clips that fit into them before even starting the curtain process. Clips are not universal. We had a very strange style that were rollers that hugged a "T" style thing.
Depending on the clips, the tops of the curtains may have to be made differently! (Hard to explain, but getting our clips was the big task that the whole rest of the project hung on - no pun intended)!
Good luck. If you need help finding clips, I can ask my German hubby where he eventually special ordered ours.
Best wishes from Ochsenfurt, tj
You have so many lovely windows in your home.
Maybe this blog can inspire you on your big /tall windows?
http://mitt-lille-hjem.blogspot.com/2011/01/gardininspirasjon.html#comments
Our Ikea curtains and sheer panels were all purchased at their longest-available length, which I think was 300. Definitely check there.
I like Diana's idea of having a personal contact do the roman shades. I had an acquaintance hem our double-layer curtains and piece a few pairs together for larger windows. She was more affordable than the alterations shops in town and the money was going to her directly. She also made roman shades and had them all over her house and told me they were a cinch to make, so you never know...
Regarding the windows: For bocking out light in the bedroom I am sing Ikea curtains (The ones with the metal rings to hang), they don't go all the way to the bottom though). For the rooms where I wanted floor length curtains... I made them myself, because otherwise I couldn't afford them...
The privacy issue: have you checked what is visible from the outside when the lights are out during the day? With Altbau rooms being very big but not very bright you might be surprised about how little can be seen from the outside!
Does it say in your lease that your are not allowed to drill near the windows? Usually it only says you are not allowed to drill in the actual frames (though, if they are original wooden ones, you can always drill and spackle the holes once you move out - it's a good thing landlords cannot "inspect" flats in Germany while you are renting...)
I guess, everything longer then 245 or 250 cm is hard to get in a shop.
I think short (anything other than floor length) curtains can look nice if they're inset within the window opening, just not mounted to the front. You may be able to buy a whole bolt of white sheer fabric and have someone sew them for you. Some fabric has nice enough edges that you can just put a pocket in the top and hem the bottom and leave the sides as is to keep the sewing simpler.
Also if the radiators are hot water and not steam radiators they probably won't get hot enough to be a problem and you can let the curtains hang long.
Are you opposed to dressing the windows from the middle down so that the top portion is left open for consistent light? If you were to find an L bracket that screwed into the drywall/plaster on the wall not the window you could you use the other side of the L to mount a rod and you could hang curtains. On the smaller windows you could do whatever fabrics you wanted but on your large doors you'd have to do something light.
In your living room, do the doors open in or out? Are you going to paint that room? What about creating a cornice box, again at the half way point so you always have the light from the top windows. Then stretch the cornice box across the entire wall which could could be made of something that could be painted so it doesn't feel to heavy. Then inside the box would be strong enough to mount a rod where the treatment could be pulled either direction when the heater is being used. If the cornice is built right you could also add up lighting in the top that shines up and shows off the height of your ceiling at night. I'm not sure the height of those doors but it would be less expensive to create simple drapes that way.
Hope this helps. Jamie
they look pretty on both sides!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27946928@N03/5444325839/
I would totally go with long curtains for the french windows though. No better option. Plus it will accentuate on the high ceilings and will make the room more elegant. They can be open at each side during the day and closed at night. They can even stop before the heaters if you are afraid the heat will be bad for them. But if they do cover the heaters you will get a cleaner look.
Good luck :)
I have never heard of problems with long curtains and heaters under the window- so I like best long curtains, in the day hanging on the side of the window and in the night they can be closed. Also, on can put two: one transparent and one not transparent (may be coloured) to be closed by night.
I just ordered some long curtains at H&M online (http://shop.hm.com/de/homespring). I like them very much and they are of very nice fabric. I don't know if 250 cm is long enough, though. By the way, in my place the night they will also "touch" the heaters and I don't worry about it, because it's linen and so there should be no problem.
Also at amzon you can find many curtains.
Ah, and the wintergarten I would not put curtains everywhere, just where the sun is too hot...
I am sure you'll find a good solution!
My favourite solution for almost any window is muslin fabric. White cotton muslin is cheap, semi see-through and if you haven't time to sew them up, it shouldn't cost much to have them made up into either simple panels or long drapes (and they are thin enough to let some heat through from the radiators). Our very first house had muslin drapes throughout because I couldn't afford anything else, not even IKEA curtains, and it looked feminine, soft, light and stylish.
Someone else has probably suggested this already, but why don't you buy some plain curtains from IKEA (I believe most are 300cm long there, and then attach some more expensive fabric to the bottom to make up the length. We have high ceilings in our house too, and it seemed that it was only IKEA who did reasonably priced, long curtains. Hope you find something soon!
ENJE blinds are the first to come to my mind when I read your post too bad that you can use them.
Have you seen the window covering that Jenna from sweetfineday.com has? I think she bought hers but they look simple enough to be made:
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/10/sneak-peek-whimsy-spice.html
I know how stressful that can be. We move often and almost everytime I need to buy new curtains or blinds.
Good luck-
Eva
do you know this shop: www.vossbergversand.de? we bought the curtains for our altbauwohnung there, they have a huge variety of ready-sewn curtains in the most beautiful semi-transparent and non-transparent fabrics (cotton voile, silk, velvet,...), and most of them come in different lenghts. the quality is really good and you couldn't buy the fabric needed for our curtains for a lower price. we have their white voile curtains (length = 3,25 m) which I simply attached to this (I guess typically german) steel rope - clip system (ikea or local baumarkt) - which got us extra 15 cm in height.
I am asking bc I have a door out back that is metal and on a thin rod, using some strong magnetic hooks, I am able to hang my grandmothers crochet curtain for display and some privacy...
It's not what you where asking about, but maybe it'll give ya an idea for something else... since ya mentioned not being able to drill in the window frame...
I completely empathize with the ceilings, by the way. We went from a house where I could touch the ceiling if I was only two rungs up on a ladder to one where the ceilings are about fourteen feet high. I can't reach the ceiling even ON a ladder now! (But I'm only five feet...) I will never understand why builders put in ridiculous ceiling heights.
Good luck with the window mess!
you can buy affordable roman shades and other window dressing at Dekoria - a Polish e-store; www.dekoria.pl - the largest size off-the-shelf white roman blind they have is 160x170cm and it costs 169PLN (around 43EUR - which would be 10 times less expensive than the ones you found :)); they do make custom sizes blinds up to 200x260. Unfortunately the webpage is in Polish only but I suppose you can manage using Google Translate; I think they will welcome an abroad customer although they state that they offer free shipping only within Poland.
Joanna
PS. I am not associated with the shop but I have bought from them and the quality is (well; was a couple years ago) good.
making it look something like this
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aOkuvNEDo_0/S8ABcOpnm-I/AAAAAAAADZU/ijORXhu-L9U/s1600/fadedplainsafer2.jpg
If you want something really inexpensive, you can make (or have made) plain linen flat panel curtains, in the exact size of the inside of your window frames (no gathers or pleats). Leave a rod pocket at the top and slip them over inexpensive tension rods or the clip rods you are talking about. They look clean and unfussy, like blinds.
To make them functional, you can throw a couple of ribbons over the rod and tie them up, or hide tiebacks behind long non-functional drapes at the sides.
A step up from just a flat panel is a ribbon tie drape, like Pottery barn's: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/drape-shade/?pkey=csolid-drapes
They are also very easy to make, and look quite clean if they are an exact fit, though the ties are always visible.
I have been wrestling with similar problems in our new place in Holland as we now also have a ground floor space and 3m high ceilings. I finally also settled on the ENJE blinds from IKEA as they look fantastic given their low price and they also provide privacy during the day while letting the light in. These can be mounted either to the wall or to the ceiling.
We also have curtains that go to the floor that we pull across in the evening, we have used painters drop cloth (natural/white in colour) edged in a coloured linen (about the last 1m at the bottom) to save on cost. Easy to make and you could hang the rail from the ceiling. Shannon suggested this and it looks great! (Pics on her site: http://shannonfricke.blogspot.com/2010/05/dreaming-about.html )
BUT if you don't have time then IKEA also does some great white (& cheap) sheers (Vivan) that are 3m long which you could customise with colour at the bottom to suit each rooms' decor. They also don't look like they're 10 euros for a pair and wash well.
For other spaces (like our bathroom) we have also used window film then the blind instead of curtains - some of the latest designs are quite cute.
Finally, I have noticed that the longer I live here the less I care about privacy as I used to, so you may find that also happens to you. ;-)
Hope that's of help, I know some of it is repetetive!
Good luck,
Tip
Sunny greetings from far Korea, Anika
After reading through all the great comments everyone has left I can't offer anything new. I can say that as someone who once lived in the US with firmly closed curtains on every single window of an evening, I have completely relaxed that tendency after years of living in various European countries.
Someone above suggested that you have a good look from the outside at what exactly is visible at different times of the day/night with varied indoor lighting conditions. You might be surprised at just how little can actually be glimpsed, unless you're on the ground floor of course. Simple muslin or somesuch fabric in one of the interesting yet simple suggestions above could really be all you need to give you the sense of privacy you need right now yet give you time to adjust your personal sense of that privacy.
Anyway,talking way too much here and you have such a strong gorgeous decorating sense that whatever you choose will have us all sighing in appreciation I'm sure.
Good luck,
Barbara
http://www.ikea.com/de/de/catalog/products/40078148
http://www.ikea.com/de/de/catalog/products/10070262
http://www.ikea.com/de/de/catalog/products/50046048
http://www.ikea.com/de/de/catalog/products/30152351
All of these products are 3,00m long, but regarding the price it would be an idea to buy a bit more than your number of windows and than just extend the curtains / sliding panels ...
I would be happy to have your curtain / window problems ... in the contrary to this here in Japan my ceiling hight is just 2.30m and I am not allowed to change anything in our rented home (typical for Japan), so this means coping with off-white walls instead of real white ...
Cheers from Tokyo
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/simple-cafe-curtains?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/shade-and-curtain-projects#slide_2
(sans orange stripes for me!)
Here's an interesting option if you want operability (buttons!):
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/button-up-window-shade
They're blind-like: modern and un-frilly. Those beautiful transoms could be left uncovered, if they don't pose a privacy issue. They would look fantastic with long side panels, which you could add room by room once you have the needed privacy (and a nice common element throughout your apartment). Even with your many windows, a simple project like this would not take too long, or you can always get a local seamstress to help.
I can't wait to see your solution!
PS: One thing about inoperable side panels - they don't need to be as wide as operable ones, so you really don't need to use more fabric than you would for standard-height drapes.
I am going the super simple route here...but with a pretty detail...as to not put any holes in anything, use a tension rod (as has been suggested) and hang simple muslin, linen or something a bit more sheer if that gives you enough privacy...but do the detail at the top similar to a very simple swedish treatment.
Use a flat piece of fabric as wide as the inside measure of your window plus enough to put a few small flat pleats right at the very top. The pleats could line up with the vertical dividers on all your shorter windows (four pleats for the window facing the street and three pleats for the 'office' windows).
You would have to sew a narrow channel on the back of the curtain to put the tension rod through. Have the length stay inside the window frame so it is very clean looking, but softens the window a bit.
Your large window/door would have two panels on one rod (inside the reveal...split in the middle) with the flat pleat detail at the top in a pleasing increment. This way no uping and downing of long blinds or backing and forthing of curtains, plus no blocking of radiators at all.
This is the most simple yet useful treatment I can think of.
Hope this was helpful :)
some info found here
http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2009/07/09/everything-i-know-about-window-film/
and fabric do it your self version found here
http://manhattan-nest.com/2010/06/01/the-doors/
I swear I saw some sort of lacey version somewhere where vintage lace was used and glued (with cornstarch i think? but I can't seem to recall/google where...
good luck.. i have similar problems but have blinds.. (not my choice) and am in a rental so am just dealing with the blinds for now
while surfing all kinds of home decor blogs I came across a tutorial about no-sew roman shades made from a fabric of your choice and the "hardware" of miniblinds.
For example here: http://www.aprettycoollife.com/2009/08/diy-roman-shade-mistreatment-no-sewing.html or here: http://frugalhomeideas.blogspot.com/2009/11/no-sew-roman-shades.html
These blinds could be used with our German clip-onto-window-frame system and you wouldn't have the look of those plastic blinds. You should also be able to get "hardware" that is long enough for your windows as these miniblinds are also available for patio or balcony doors...
Gorgeous flat by the way - I love your floors!
Good luck with finding a solution for you dilemma,
Katrin
There are some kind of vinyl with patterns, it is clear finish and very nice, don't know the name, maybe just use it in the lower part of the window, people use quite a bit in the UK, it is very contemporary.
most of all I would use natural fabrics only, maybe just a panel across the window of a vintage piece you like. be creative and innovative, use your space to try different things out.
Good luck with it!! and break the rules.
(GROßBURGWEDEL by the way - they'll have a 20%-OFF-SALE for ALL CURTAINS/ Schiebegardinen starting Feb. 21st, by the way!!)
They are called Lenda and 3m long - maybe that's an option? You can even add on (or shorten) without sewing, simply by ironing.
Good luck! (And it's really an AWESOME flat!)
Fondly,
Glenda
it seems like your readers have pretty much covered the options for curtains so I've got another suggestion for you... You could use folding shutter doors (obi or horbach have them in Munich and they come in all sorts of heights) for a kind of plantation shutter look. In Chicago (where I'm from), people do this quite a bit - especially the ones that live in storefronts. It looks great, does the trick and is unusual.
here my suggestions: - www.stoffamstueck.de for curtain oder roman blind material, www.pavani.de is another option though a bit pricey.
Any interior decorator shop or department store that sells curtains will supply you with the necessary material like rings, ropes or heading tapes (Gardinenband). Ask an alteration shop (Änderungsschneiderei) around the corner if they will sew your curtains or blinds. Here in Berlin there are a lot of these shops often run by a turkish tailor. These men are amazingly skilled and the prices are moderate.
Good luck to you!
Melissa
lg dani
I haven't read all the other comments (too many for me to check out right now), but if I were you, I'd find a way to pay for/save up for the roman shades. Also roman shades are my fav. But here are some options:
A: You use a cheaper fabric to cut cost
B: You install some roman shades on the primary windows and as your budget allows you do more in increments
C: You make some yourself (bedroom etc) that will not be seen by visitors as often.
Good luck! Can't wait to see what you decide on.
Just a comment about the position on your radiators - they are placed under the window to heat up and draught that might get in and also to maintain heat in the house. In any room, the window-side is always cooler that the towards-the-rest-of-the-house-side, thus there is a greater need for radiators by the windows. This is really common in continental Europe and especially in Scandinavia - and they must know a thing or two about maintianing heat! :) So don't be too disheartened - it may not look the way you want it too, but it'll keep you warm in winter! :)
Anna @ homeannaway.com
http://tinyurl.com/5wkl63l
Teresa
btw... who was your real estate agent in Hannover, your apartment looks beautiful!
In Holland it isn't that expensive. You can see examples at:
http://raambekleding.hema.nl/ProductGroups.aspx
http://www.leenbakker.nl/nl/assortiment/gordijnen_en_raamdecoraties/gordijn_en_raamdecoratie_overzicht.aspx
http://www.kwantum.nl/gordijnen
etc. I think it is worth visiting your neighbor country :) Good luck!
i am sure everything on this topic has been covered already, but what about buying a huge roll of white linen, cutting it to the right lengths and hemming top and bottom,don't line it, then hanging it on a skinny pole with cafe clips, very low on effort, very reasonably priced, and would give you the sheer/light enhancing look you are striving for.
i can probably get you a 50m roll from the weaver who does my basecloths but not sure what the carriage would be from scotland to hannover! you can mail me through my website but not through email you have for me from the first byw as have changed it!
good luck with the house it looks beautiful x
sarah hardaker x
Beautiful floors BTW!